CELTICS NOTEBOOK: Eight draft picks on summer league roster

Thursday

Jun 29, 2017 at 5:46 PMJun 29, 2017 at 5:53 PM

Jim Fenton The Enterprise @JFenton_ent

Eight players selected in the past two drafts will be playing on the Celtics’ summer league team in July.The group includes first-round choices Jaylen Brown, the No. 3 pick in 2016; Ante Zizic, who was chosen No. 23 last year; and Jayson Tatum, selected No. 3 last week.

They will be joined by two second-rounders from 2016, Demetrius Jackson and Abdel Nader, plus the three players chosen in the second round this year, Semi Ojeleye, Kadeem Allen and Jabari Bird.

The Celtics began practicing in Waltham on Thursday morning and will have workouts today and Saturday before departing for Salt Lake City on Sunday.

The team will play three games in Utah next week, going against No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz and the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday and the Utah Jazz on Thursday.

The Celtics move on to the Las Vegas Summer League after that, beginning July 8 against Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers.

They will also face the Portland Trail Blazers on July 9 and the 76ers on July 11.

The tournament continues July 12-17 with teams seeded according to their records.

The Celtics’ games will be televised on either Comcast SportsNet New England, ESPN or NBA TV.

Brown, who made the NBA’s all-rookie second team, appeared in 78 games and got better as his first season progressed.

Unlike most players drafted near the top, Brown received minutes on a team that finished first in the Eastern Conference.

“It was great for my foundation in the NBA and my career, learning how to win, paying attention to detail, the focus that goes into winning,’’ said Brown.

Zizic, one of three first-round picks in 2016, played for Darussafaka Dogus Instanbul in Turkey and KK Cibona last season.

The 6-foot-11 Zizic has a chance to join the Celtics in the fall because of his ability to rebound.

In addition to the eight draft picks, there are seven other players on the Celtics roster.